Skip to main content

Conservatives breaking key pledges to farmers





DEFRA have confirmed that farm payments in England will be reduced by 5-25% next year, depending on the band of direct payments.
In December 2019 the UK Government confirmed funding for the Basic Payments Scheme in Wales would remain the same for 2020. This announcement suggests this funding will be reduced for Wales from 2021 onwards.

Jane Dodds, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, commented:

Boris Johnson and the Conservatives have been promising since 2016 that farmers would not be worse off because of Brexit. Todayā€™s announcement shows just how hollow those promises were.

Iā€™m deeply concerned that UK Government funding for farming in Wales could also be cut next year. This would undermine all the Welsh Governmentā€™s work to provide financial certainty for our farmers, who already face more challenging conditions than their colleagues across the UK.

During last yearā€™s general election campaign Michael Gove personally promised Scottish Farmers the Conservatives would protect farm funding for the lifetime of this Parliament. I trust Mr Gove wonā€™t break his promise to Scottish farmers and that Welsh farmers will enjoy the same guarantee.

The UK Government must urgently give clarity on the future funding for farming in Wales and Conservative MPs from rural seats should stand up for this funding. Failure to do so will show they care more about toeing their partyā€™s line than actually standing up for the communities they claim to represent.

Popular posts from this blog

Ed Davey writes: I want to rebuild our party and take on the Tories

  we wrap up the Liberal Democrat leadership election, I wanted to thank the thousands of people who have taken part in hustings, sent in questions to the campaigns and engaged in this contest. Itā€™s absolutely right that there is a robust process that properly tests our next leader, and makes sure that whoever wins on Thursday has been put through their paces by the party. Whatever happens later this week, I know that Liberal Democrats will come together and turn our hand to doing what we do best, getting out campaigning and standing up for communities up and down the country. If you havenā€™t returned your ballot yet then there is still time to vote for me so that we can rebuild our party on solid foundations, and campaign for a fairer, greener and more caring society. Thatā€™s my vision for the future of our party, and I know Iā€™ve got the experience we need to deliver it.  With your support, I want to rebuild our party and take on the Tories, and put ...

Jane Dodds - Aberpergwm Coal Mine Expansion Must be Stopped

  he Welsh Liberal Democrats have reiterated their opposition to the expansion of Aberpergwm Coal Mine in Neath Port Talbot Council. Addressing a protest in front of the Senedd Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds stated that if we are to stand any hope of tackling climate change before itā€™s too late, the coal must be left in the ground.   The protest in front of the Senedd in Cardiff saw multiple Welsh climate groups attend.   The expansion of Aberpergwm Coal Mine has been at the centre of a row between the UK and Welsh Governments, with the Welsh Government claiming it does not have the legal authority to block the mineā€™s expansion, while the UK Coal Authority has insisted that the Welsh Government could in fact stop the development.   The new license, which was approved by the Coal Authority in January will allow Aberpergwm Mine to extract another forty million tonnes of coal. The development could release up to 1.17 million tonnes of very strong g...

New Zealand Trade Deal Will Damage Rural Communities

Responding to the news that the UK Government has concluded the signing of a trade deal with New Zealand, removing trade barriers between the two countries, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have said the deal will cause damage to rural communities and the Welsh agricultural industry. Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader and Senedd Member for Mid & West Wales Jane Dodds said: "The UK Government has negotiated a trade agreement that will actively damage Welsh farming communities and will bring next to no tangible benefits to our local economies.   "The Conservatives have proven that they are utterly unable to negotiate trade deals that boost the UK economy and unfortunately this agreement is no exception. The economic benefits are a drop in the ocean, and they will do nothing to mitigate the damage from the red tape and paperwork caused by Boris Johnson's shambolic EU trade deal. "Instead of delivering Global Britain, this Government is selling Welsh farmers...